Page 55 - BV7

The Ordinance of Humility

In giving us their accounts, Matthew, Mark and Luke describe the taking of unleavened
bread and wine. But John relates another part of this ordinance.

In the 13th chapter of John we notice that after the Passover supper was ended (verse 2),
Jesus took a towel (verse 4) and began to wash His disciples' feet (verse 5).

"So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he
said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well;
for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one an-
other's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (John
13:12-15).

If any of you are wondering if this ordinance of humility is a command to you, then turn to
Matthew 28:19, 20. Here Jesus said to these same disciples: "Go ye therefore, and teach all na-
tions, baptizing them ... teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded YOU."
So they were to teach us to observe all things whatsoever Jesus commanded them!

Kept Once a Year in the Apostolic Church

In I Corinthians 5:7, 8, Paul tells the Corinthians: "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven ... but with the unleavened bread of sincerity
and truth." And in the 11th chapter he gives the directions regarding this ordinance.

Some misunderstand verse 26 which says: "As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this
cup," by interpreting it "take it as often as you wish." But it does not say that!

It says "as often" as you observe it, "ye do show the Lord's death till he come." Even Jesus
commanded, "This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me" (verse 25). We do it in re-
membrance of the Lord's death -- a memorial of His death. As you know, memorials are celebrated
annually, once a year, on the anniversary of the events commemorated. So we observe the memo-
rial of Christ's death annually. And just as often as each year comes around, we are to "show the
Lord's death till he come," by keeping this memorial.

While Christ instituted this ordinance on the eve of His death -- on the 14th of Abib, by
God's Sacred Calendar, in the very beginning of the day, the actual Passover meal was observed
on the evening portion of the 15th of Abib or Nisan. God starts days at sunset, not midnight. So,
later that same day -- on the 14th -- after Jesus had gone out to Gethsemane, Judas Iscariot led the
crowd to seize Jesus. Then He was crucified later that same day, in the daylight part of this same
14th of the month Abib.

By following the example of Jesus in observing this sacred ordinance -- at the very same
time the Passover was forever commanded to be observed -- we continue to remember His death,
annually, on the eve after the crucifixion.

55